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Sex charges dropped against doctor

Kate FarrishConn. Health I-Team Writer| on May 21, 2014

The state Medical Examining Board dropped sexual assault charges against Dr. Tory Westbrook because the Glastonbury doctor, who has been convicted of sexually assaulting patients, had voluntarily surrendered his medical license May 9 as part of a plea agreement.

The medical board's case against Westbrook, 45, came to end Tuesday even while he is in prison in Cheshire awaiting his Sept. 19 sentencing on multiple sexual assault charges.

DPH had accused Westbrook of sexually assaulting three female patients in 2011 and 2012 at the Community Health Center in Clinton and having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a fourth patient. He was also charged with inappropriately prescribing a drug for the fourth patient.

The board had suspended his medical license in June 2012. DPH records said its department's continued prosecution of the charges was no longer necessary because Westbrook had voluntarily surrendered his license in court May 9.

Records show Westbrook has been in prison since Nov. 15 when a jury in Superior Court in Middletown found him guilty of multiple counts of second-degree and fourth-degree sexual assault of patients.

Westbrook, who pleaded no contest May 9 to 12 other charges that he sexually assaulted clinic patients in Clinton and at a laser hair removal center in Manchester, is expected to be sentenced to 14 years in prison, according to media reports.

Westbrook's attorney Norman Pattis did not attend the medical board meeting. By e-mail he said, "The criminal disposition illustrates the savagery of the criminal justice system. Prison accomplishes nothing in this case."